Food Stamps, officially called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), are a big help for many families in the United States. They give people money to buy groceries and put food on the table. But, what exactly can you buy with food stamps? And, maybe more importantly, what can’t you buy? Let’s dive into what’s not covered by SNAP.
Non-Food Items
One of the most straightforward things that food stamps *don’t* cover is non-food items. This is pretty easy to remember: SNAP is meant to help people buy food. So, anything that isn’t food is off-limits. This includes a whole bunch of stuff that you might need.
Think about it: you need soap to wash your hands, toothpaste to brush your teeth, and paper towels to clean up messes. But unfortunately, none of these qualify. Here’s a quick list of some things you can’t buy:
- Cleaning Supplies (like dish soap and laundry detergent)
- Hygiene Products (shampoo, deodorant, etc.)
- Household Supplies (like light bulbs and batteries)
- Pet Food and Supplies (even though your furry friend needs to eat!)
Why is this the case? Well, SNAP is designed to target hunger and food insecurity. It’s specifically focused on making sure people have enough to eat. While those other items are important for health and well-being, they aren’t directly related to getting food on your plate.
For example, a family might need new school supplies for their kids. They might need to buy a new vacuum cleaner because the old one broke. But, food stamps can’t be used to buy any of these things. SNAP is specifically designed to help people get enough to eat, and not to help cover these other needs.
Hot Foods and Prepared Meals
Another big category of things that food stamps don’t cover is hot foods and prepared meals. You might be thinking, “Wait, what? I can’t use food stamps to buy a pizza?” Unfortunately, that’s generally correct.
The idea is that SNAP is meant to help people purchase ingredients to prepare their own meals. This is often seen as a way to promote healthy eating and encourage cooking at home. However, there are some exceptions.
You can’t, for example, go to a fast food restaurant and pay with your EBT card. Similarly, you can’t order a ready-made meal from the deli section of your grocery store. This is one of the most confusing rules, so we made a table:
| Item | Allowed? |
|---|---|
| Raw Chicken | Yes |
| Rotisserie Chicken | Sometimes* |
| Pizza from a Pizza Place | No |
| Pizza from a Grocery Store (uncooked) | Yes |
*If a grocery store has a hot food section, you *might* be able to purchase hot foods with SNAP if the store is an authorized SNAP retailer. Check to make sure.
Alcohol and Tobacco Products
This one is pretty straightforward, but it’s worth mentioning. **Food stamps cannot be used to buy alcohol or tobacco products.** This includes beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes, cigars, and chewing tobacco.
The purpose of SNAP is to provide people with the funds to obtain nutritious food. Alcohol and tobacco are not considered essential for a healthy diet. Furthermore, there’s a concern about the potential for these items to be misused if they were allowed under SNAP.
It’s important to remember that SNAP is a public assistance program funded by taxpayers. The rules are designed to ensure the program’s resources are used responsibly and efficiently. This is not to say that people who buy these products are bad, but it’s to say that SNAP funds are reserved only for the necessities.
Here is a quick list:
- Beer
- Wine
- Liquor
- Cigarettes
- Cigars
- Chewing Tobacco
Vitamins and Supplements
Vitamins and supplements, even if they are good for your health, are not generally covered by food stamps. The focus of SNAP is on providing assistance for basic nutritional needs through the purchase of food items, not necessarily on supplementing those needs through vitamins or other products. Some might argue this is illogical, especially if a person has a diagnosed vitamin deficiency.
There are a few exceptions to this rule. For example, in some states, you might be able to buy medically necessary nutritional supplements if you have a prescription from a doctor. These are usually things like special formula for babies or people with specific medical conditions. However, in most cases, vitamins and supplements are not covered.
Keep in mind that the rules around this can change from state to state, so it’s always best to check with your local SNAP office for the most up-to-date information. This means that you will need to use other funds to buy vitamins and supplements.
Here is a more specific list. You cannot buy:
- Vitamins
- Supplements
- Herbal Remedies
- Medically necessary nutritional supplements (unless prescribed)
In most cases, the rules are very firm on what is allowed, and what is not. While the rules may seem limiting, it is designed to make sure that people who need the most help get the food they need.
Conclusion
So, food stamps are a lifeline for many, helping them put food on the table. But, it’s important to understand what they *don’t* cover. From non-food items to prepared meals, alcohol, tobacco, and vitamins, SNAP has specific rules about what you can and can’t purchase. The rules are designed to help people buy the food they need for a healthy diet, while being mindful of how public funds are used. Understanding these rules can help people make the most of their food stamps and ensure they’re using them correctly.